Nuclear Engineering KU Leuven

Overview

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Probably the most familiar nuclear engineering application is the production of electricity by means of nuclear power. Over 30% of electricity in the EU and roughly 55% in Belgium is provided by nuclear power. Moreover, at a small absolute but high relative scale, Belgium developed on its territory almost all kinds of nuclear activities: power plants, fuel production, radioelement production, engineering companies, accelerator design and fabrication, waste management, safety management, nuclear medicine, research and higher education.

BNEN, the Belgian Nuclear higher Education Network consisting of KU Leuven, Universiteit Gent, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Université de Liège, Université Catholique de Louvain and the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, organises a one-year (60 credits) advanced master programme in nuclear engineering. 

The primary objective of the BNEN programme is to educate young engineers in nuclear engineering and its applications and to develop and maintain high-level nuclear competences in Belgium and abroad. BNEN catalyses networking between academia, research centres, industry and other nuclear stakeholders. All teaching activities take place at SCK CEN. Courses are organised in English and in a modular way; teaching in blocks of one to three weeks for each module allows optimal time management for students and lecturers, facilitates registration for individual modules, and allows easy access for international students.

The Belgian Master of Nuclear Engineering programme is embedded in the European ENEN association, a non-profit international organisation of universities and research centres for the preservation and further development of higher nuclear education and expertise.

Career perspectives

Upon completion of the Master's programme in Nuclear Engineering, students will have acquired:

• a thorough understanding of nuclear physical processes;
• a comprehensive knowledge of the procedures and techniques necessary to control nuclear processes;
• an in-depth knowledge of nuclear safety, reliability procedures and nuclear waste treatment;
• the competence to design and maintain structures to control nuclear processes;
• communicative skills in the field of nuclear technology and the capability to participate in research concerning the above mentioned topics.

Graduates possess the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out duties at a high level of responsibility in nuclear power plants, nuclear research reactors, nuclear regulatory organisations, nuclear engineering firms, nuclear fuel fabrication, nuclear waste treatment and radio-isotope production.

In addition, the degree itself is an important part of the legal qualifications necessary to become a safety professional in a major nuclear installation.